Chatham golfer Matt Haines decides to turn professional

The 20-year-old Rochester &
Cobham GC member has withdrawn from the England team to play France
at Chantilly on Sunday and Monday and instead is now preparing to
make his professional debut in next week’s Mugello Tuscany Open at
Poggio dei Meici GC in Florence, Italy.

The Tuscany Open is a Challenge
Tour event and is one of eight such tournaments that Haines has
been invited to play in this season - a key factor in the timing of
his decision to join the pro ranks.

Haines (pictured) said: "It
means I get two opportunities to earn my card for next year’s full
European Tour, either by earning enough money in the eight
Challenge Tour events I can play in or by qualifying at Tour School
at the end of the season.

"I decided at the end of last year
that, if I made a good start to this season, I would turn pro
sooner rather than later and things have gone well so far this
year."